HAVING had to change his name to get a licence, Witney middleweight prospect (Steve) Marvin Mullins will face Walsall southpaw Bobby Wood in his professional boxing baptism.

The pair will fight at the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon on Friday.

And the 31-year-old former Wolvercote (now the Oxford Boxing Academy) and Penhill amateur will be busy studying videos of his opponent in action now that the contracts have been signed.

Manager and promoter Keith Mayo said: “Steve (Marvin) wanted to be tested from the start of his professional career and that has been reflected in the choice of opponent.

“Wood is also a former England amateur international and is no pushover, which is precisely what Steve demanded.

“He is also a southpaw, so that adds an extra degree of difficulty to the task he has in the ring.”

Mullins has also spent countless rounds sparring with Kelvin Young, who heads the bill when he takes on Birmingham’s Tony Randell for the International Masters middleweight championship belt.

And the new boy in the paid ranks is able to gain something extra from the time spent with the Swindonian – Young boxed Wood earlier this year.

Mullins said: “Working with Kelvin is a tremendous bonus – we trained as amateurs at Penhill, so we know each other very well.

“He also has the inside knowledge on Bobby as he boxed him before.

“The fact that my opponent is a southpaw is an added dimension, but it is something that has never worried me.

“I boxed James DeGale (amongst others as an amateur) who was also a left hander.”